One Week in Your Arms (12 page)

He laid aside the paper. “I'm counting on it. I spoke with Gary Warren a few minutes ago,” he said. “Noah and Ella are doing well, and they're flying home today. I think they're gonna be fine.”

“That's good to hear.” She smiled, happy the Warren children had recuperated and pleased that Carson had taken such an interest in their welfare.

“You look very sunny today.” His gaze swept over her.

She grinned and quipped, “For a moment there, I thought you were going to say sexy.”

“You're always sexy, Marla.”

“What can I say?” She trotted into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. She directed the conversation to a trivial matter. Something less combustible than being sexy. “I think I'll check out the spa today.”

He chuckled. “You don't want to hike a canyon trail?”

“I'm not up for hiking anywhere today. I want idyllic. I want to sit on the beach and commune with nature.”

“If you go to the beach, pay attention to the warnings.”

“I'm staying on the sand. Not going in the water.” She had read the warnings in the hotel brochure about the ocean currents and that tourists shouldn't underestimate the power of the waves. She did not want to be carried out to sea or be snack food for a shark.

A soft tone echoed through the penthouse. She lifted her brows in surprise. “Is that the doorbell?”

“Yeah.” He looked as surprised as she did. “Did you call room service?”

“It's probably the maid.” She went to answer the door. It was not the maid.

A striking brunette with dark blue eyes and a rope of diamonds around her neck stood on the threshold. She wore a red silk top and a long print skirt that floated to the floor. There was something oddly familiar about her beautiful face.

“May I come in?” the brunette prompted.

“Of course.” Marla blinked, coming out of her trance.

The brunette entered the foyer. “You must be the doctor that Truman and Julia are raving about.”

“Olivia?” Carson stepped into the foyer, and Marla suddenly recognized the brunette.

Olivia Blaise. Movie Star
. She had seen several of Olivia's films, and she definitely recalled seeing Olivia at a red carpet event on TV years ago. The camera had scanned the crowd, and she'd seen Olivia walking the red carpet with Carson at her side. They had made a stunning couple.

Marla debated on whether she should excuse herself and give them some privacy, or stay and help him explain the real reason for her presence. Either way, her stomach roped into awkward knots.

“It's great to see you, Liv,” Carson said.

“Carson, I'm not sure if I should hit you or hug you.”

He opened his arms, inviting a hug. As they embraced, he said, “I'm sorry. I had every intention of being there.”

“Do you have any idea how deeply you disappointed everyone?” Olivia sighed. “Especially Great-Aunt Edith? She's ninety-two. She may not have another birthday, Carson.”

“They grounded the flights out of London. There was nothing I could do,” he replied. “I called her.”

“It's not about calling. It's about being there. You know how Daddy loves adding pictures to the Blackwell page on that ancestry website,” Olivia said as she strolled into the living area, followed by Carson.

Marla noticed Olivia had a different accent than the one she used in movies. She had a Texas drawl much like Carson and the Crawfords. “Daddy wanted a picture of Aunt Edith and all her nieces and nephews. Everyone was there but you.”

“I know. I felt like shit,” Carson admitted.

“Are the two of you related?” Marla couldn't suppress her growing curiosity or her disbelief that Carson was related to a movie star.

Olivia nodded. “I'm his cousin, but I've always considered him a brother. Until lately.”

Carson's remorseful expression remained as he introduced them. Then he said, “I'll make a trip home to see everyone next month.”

“I hope you'll do that. You know, we were raised to put family first.”

“Yeah,” he agreed and he roped his arm around her shoulders. “And I'm really glad to see you. Are you here making a film?”

“No, I came here to see you and to get away from everything. I'm going to take some time off.”

Marla didn't want to intrude, but she didn't want to appear impolite either. She decided to take on the hostess role. “Would you care for a cup of coffee?”

“Sure.” Olivia wanted a cup of black coffee. Carson declined.

In the kitchen, Marla slipped her phone out of her shorts pocket and sent a message to Hot Rod, who was one of her close friends and allies on the medical staff. He was also an Olivia Blaise fan.

As she poured the coffee, she heard Olivia explaining that she had stopped by Carson's office and found out where he was. “Simon and I flew down last night. I wanted to see you before the media storm.”

“What's going on?” Carson asked.

“I'm going to have a baby,” Olivia announced, and Marla turned to look in the living room where Olivia put Carson's hand on her stomach. “Say hello to the newest member of the family.”

His jaw dropped. “A baby?”

A wide smile brought a bright light to her eyes. “I'm so happy! Carson, the doctor said everything is fine this time. It's going to be a Christmas baby!”

“That's great.” Carson pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “I'm so happy for you and Simon.”

“We're getting married in September. I want you to be one of the groomsmen.”

“I'll be there. I promise. I wouldn't miss your wedding for anything.”

“You better be there.”

Marla returned to the living room with Olivia's coffee. “Congratulations,” she said as she handed Olivia the coffee.

“Thank you.” Olivia took a seat on the sofa and Carson sat beside her. “I've waited so long for this. To have a family of my own. To be a mommy.” She sniffled and brushed away a tear. “I'm sorry. I have these moments when my emotions just overwhelm me.”

“It's okay, doll. Cry all you want.” He took her hand. “I know the day I become a father, I'll be blown away. I can't imagine what that will feel like, but I know it'll be the happiest day of my life.”

Marla looked away, her hand pressed against her chest.

“I've heard some great things about you.” Olivia smiled at her. “Truman and Julia are gushing all over the place about how Carson has finally lucked up and found love at last.”

Marla shot Carson a pointed glance.

He cleared his throat. “Well, I wouldn't say things have progressed that far.”

“No,” Marla added quickly. “I know Truman and Julia love Carson, and they want him to be happy. But, to be honest, we're just friends and we don't have any plans for the future.”

He sent a thorny look her way. “That's right. Who knows what the future will hold?” He shrugged. “Marla may end up back with her ex-husband, Ben. And maybe I'll take Enola Kalle to the Alps.”

Set off by his comment, Marla shrugged while wondering who Enola Kalle was. “Sounds good to me.”

They glared at each other, and Olivia squirmed on the sofa. “I guess Truman and Julia must have gotten the wrong impression.”

“Something like that,” Carson muttered.

Marla's phone started vibrating. She quickly pulled it from her pocket, thankful for the diversion. “I need to take this call. It was great to meet you,” she told Olivia, who looked utterly confused.

“It was nice to meet you, too,” Olivia responded.

Marla hurried through the penthouse door but not before she heard Olivia say, “Enola Kalle? Carson, tell me that was a bad joke.”

“This whole trip's been a bad joke.”

“W
atch me, Mommy. I'm doing the happy dance!”

Marla's cousin, Lydia, whose smartphone had a video chat app, held the phone for Sophie, who danced to the music from
Peanuts
. She waved her hands in the air and shuffled her feet, mimicking Charlie Brown and the gang.

Marla stood on a covered walkway outside the hotel. The distant sound of waves crashing against the reefs, the murmur of palm fronds in the breeze and the sweet scent of plumeria surrounded her. Yet the glory of paradise didn't compare to her child.

“That was great,” she said as Sophie finished her dance.

Her little girl rushed up to the camera on Lydia's phone. “I'm going to the beach, too! This is the best summer ever!”

Sophie was excited about going to the Gulf Coast. Lydia had invited Marla's parents and Sophie to spend a couple of days on the coast with her and her family.

“I'm gonna make the biggest sandcastle ever!”

For a moment, Marla could only stare as she looked at Sophie's face, framed by waves of dark hair. Sophie's deep blue eyes, straight brows, square jaw, and the dimple in her right cheek were identical to her father.

“Oh, Sophie,” Marla whispered as she touched the screen of the phone.

Sophie frowned. “Are you sad, Mommy?”

“No.” Marla smiled. “I just wish I could be there with you, sweetie. I miss you so much.”

“I miss you, too. When are you coming home?”

“I'll be home Saturday,” she answered. “Give me a kiss.”

They blew each other a goodbye kiss. Then Marla spoke to her cousin and her mother both before the conversation ended. Afterward, she answered several text messages including one from Hot Rod regarding Olivia Blaise.

Marla sent a reply:
In your dreams.

Then she tapped the Google app to search for Enola Kalle.

“What do you want to bet she's a porn star?” Marla murmured to herself as she hit Search.

“Oh my God.” Marla grimaced at the photograph of a naked woman sitting astride a motorcycle. She had double-D breast implants, and her hair was dyed a copper red. There were dozens of pictures of her in suggestive poses. Marla didn't see anything about porn movies, but it appeared the sexy redhead did a lot of nude modeling for men's magazines, which meant that men across the country had masturbated while looking at her. Including Carson?
Don't let your mind go there
.

She closed the app, stuck the phone in her pocket, and headed to the beach for a short stroll. The ocean looked infinite as it spread toward the distant horizon. Along the seam between the sea and the sky, dark gray clouds clustered, hinting at a coming storm.

Lafayette Falls was in the tornado alley region of the United States, and her family had always been vigilant regarding storms. Be watchful and prepared to go to the storm shelter. She checked the weather app on her phone and the forecast for Kauai allowed for a tropical storm watch with heavy rain and wind in the late evening.

An hour later, she was pampered from head to toe at the hotel spa, getting what they called a body renewal ritual. She received a soothing hot stone massage that put her in a state of ecstasy. Then she was scrubbed with an essence called Island Moonflower, which smelled like heaven. Her body was exfoliated, waxed, hydrated, and spray-tanned. Various creams and ointments were spread all over her. After the body works, she was treated to a facial. Then she was moved to the beauty salon for hair and makeup.

If she had ever come close to dying and going to heaven, this was it. She also found out that being the guest of the man whose company owned the hotel had its perks. The spa gave her a shopping bag filled with complimentary products and cosmetics.

She left the spa for the Beachcomber, the hotel's casual dining restaurant where she and Carson usually had lunch with the Crawfords. The Beachcomber had a large, airy dining room surrounded by glass walls so that diners had an excellent view of the ocean.

The first to arrive, she had the server take her to a table large enough for four. While she waited, she took out her phone and checked her messages.

She had one from her mother letting her know they were on their way to Gulf Shores. Nolana had sent her a text wishing her well and telling her everything was fine at the clinic.
We can't wait to hear all about your trip!

She toyed with her phone for a moment, looking at the photos she'd taken during the past few days. Her gaze lingered on the picture she'd taken of Carson at the waterfall. He stood with his back to the camera, his hands stuck in the pockets of his khakis and his navy T-shirt, damp from the mist in the air, clung to his body. He was looking over his right shoulder at her when she snapped the picture. His dark aviator glasses concealed his eyes and his emotions.

She smiled as she took in the breadth of his shoulders and the way having his hands in his pockets pulled his pants tight against his hips. There was just something about the way he looked in the picture that she found sexy. A sudden surge in her estrogen level brought a deep ache between her thighs, and she decided she'd have to print out a copy of this photograph when she got home. She chuckled. Yes, she'd definitely do an eight-by-ten print.

Once she had a print of it, she'd stick it in the center of an issue of the
Journal of the American Medical Association
. Make Carson her centerfold. Then stick the magazine under the bed so it'd be handy on lonely nights. Carson could be her Enola.

She laughed and sent Kayla a text:
Wish you were here. I'm up to no good
.

Marla smiled as she replied:
Kinda. It works for me.

“Marla.” Julia waved to her from the entrance of the café, and Marla tucked her phone inside her purse. She returned Julia's wave.

Dressed in tennis clothes, Julia took a seat at a round table with a small tropical bouquet for a centerpiece. “I love your hair.” She approved of Marla's feathered flip.

“I've been to the spa and the beauty salon this morning.” Marla smiled. “I hope I don't smell like a perfume factory. They sprayed all sorts of stuff on me.”

Julia laughed. “I think you look beautiful and you smell very nice,” she said as the server brought them menus.

Marla and Julia discussed what they wanted to eat, and Marla decided she'd go with the tuna salad and a soft drink. Julia decided on the lomi-lomi salmon.

“Truman and Carson should be along anytime,” Julia said. “I got a message a few minutes ago from Truman, saying he would be here shortly.”

Marla had not heard from Carson. She hoped he and Olivia had a nice visit, and that his meeting with the land developer had gone well. Smoothing her napkin across her lap, she thought of what Olivia had said about Truman and Julia being so thrilled that Carson had found love at last. She felt terrible about misleading them.

She liked Julia and Truman. They were such good people with old-fashioned values. She didn't want them to be disappointed when her relationship with Carson suddenly ended.

“Julia, I want to thank you for being so kind to me,” she said. “I've enjoyed your company, and I'll miss you and Truman when I go home.”

“I'm sure we'll see each other again.” Julia gave her a knowing smile, and Marla knew what Julia was thinking. Carson was part of their family; therefore, his wife would be part of the family.

“No,” Marla said gently. “Carson and I are friends. That's all we are. Just friends and we live such different lives.” She took a sip of water. “Our relationship is not going to grow into anything serious or permanent.”

Julia reached over and patted her hand. “Dear, it's already serious.” She smiled with confidence. “He's in love with you. I can tell. You're
the one
.”

Marla sighed. Obviously, she and Carson were great actors.

“May I join you two beautiful girls?” Truman's robust voice interrupted their conversation. He pulled out the chair next to Julia.

“Where's Carson?” Julia asked.

“Sulking, I suppose,” Truman answered as he motioned for the server. He ordered a beer. Turning back to the women, he said, “Things didn't go too well at the meeting about the art center.”

Marla frowned. “What happened?”

“Howard had his own ideas,” Truman said, referring to the developer. “To make a long story short, Howard wanted to turn the art center into like a theme park with rides and stuff. Carson, who was already in a foul mood when he got there, blew up and walked out of the meeting. I tried talking to him, but he wouldn't listen to a word I said.”

“Give him time to cool down,” suggested Julia as their drinks were served.

“Carson is so much like Gerald. Not the least bit conciliatory. It's his way or no way.” Truman took a sip of his beer.

Julia smiled. “You don't have any room to talk.”

The server brought their plates. Marla eyed Truman's platter of Hawaiian barbecue ribs with pineapple and macaroni and cheese. Eventually, Truman's diet was probably going to kill him. She dismissed the thought, wishing it were easier to shut off the doctor inside her.

Truman spoke to Marla, “You'll have your hands full with Carson. I think Gerald and Kathleen doted on him too much when he was little. They spoiled him rotten.”

Julia shook her head. “Gerald and Kathleen were fine parents. Of course, they did indulge him somewhat, but he was their only child.”

Marla thought of Sophie, who was her only child. She definitely doted on her daughter, so she did understand why Gerald and Kathleen Blackwell would have spoiled their little boy. After she had taken the last bite of her tuna salad, she pushed aside her plate.

“I'll go check on Carson,” she told Truman and Julia. “See what he wants to do this evening.”

When Marla entered the penthouse, it possessed the stillness of an unoccupied residence, and the scent of the lemon cleansers used by the housekeeping staff remained in the air.

“Carson?” she called as she set her shopping bag on the coffee table that had been polished. She walked over to the glass sliders and looked outside. The palms swayed in the strong breeze. There was no sign of Carson. She walked across the living area to the hallway that led to the master suite. The door stood ajar and she could hear the low murmur of a TV.

“Carson?” She knocked before she looked inside. The door led to a room with textured walls painted a muted gold. A couple of ceiling spotlights beamed light on a wall tapestry. Leather armchairs and a sofa faced a spacious cherry entertainment armoire. The doors of the cabinet were open, and a baseball game played on the television.

Carson sprawled on the sofa, his back supported by plump throw pillows. He was barefoot, dressed in a floppy T-shirt and shorts, and he held a can of cold beer.

“Hey,” she said. “You didn't show up for lunch.”

“I'm not hungry.” He glowered at the TV screen. He obviously wasn't in a better mood.

“Truman said the meeting this morning didn't go well. But that doesn't mean all your options are exhausted. I'm sure something will work out.”

“Yeah, I'm working things out now.” He muted the television and cut his blue eyes toward her. “After you told Olivia that we didn't have any plans for the future, I decided to make some plans for the future.”

“With Enola?” she teased and he glared at her.

“I know the only reason you came here was because I didn't give you an option and let's face it, nothing matters more to you than your precious clinic. So get your things packed. You're going home in the morning and don't worry, I'll fund the clinic from now on. Gladly. You'll never hear from me again.”

“Carson, the attitude is not necessary,” she said. “If you want me to go, I'll go.”

With resentment in his gaze, he said, “I want you gone. Bringing you here was a mistake and that's on me. I'll have a jet waiting for you in the morning.”

For a moment, she felt a sting, as if he had slapped her. While one part of her reeled, another part rejoiced.
You've got the money for the clinic. You're safe. Sophie's safe. Get the hell out while you can.

Yet she remained in the doorway, unable to ignore the hurt she felt in her heart. “I don't want you to hate me.”

“Jesus.” He crumpled the empty beer can in his hand. “I don't hate you. This morning you were right. There's nothing serious between us. There never was. Now I just need you gone.”

What could she say to that? Nothing. She fiddled with the doorknob. “Okay.” She let out a pent-up breath as she looked at his grim face. “But I don't want it to end badly between us. The last time we parted on good terms.”

He said nothing.

“The roses were still dewy,” she recalled a detail that had stuck in her mind. “You gave me one last smile and a wave before you drove away. That's how I've always remembered you, and how I want to remember you now,” she said, desperate to hang onto good memories of him. “I want to remember your smile and what a great time we had together. Even here.”